Jockey

Job overview
Jockeys are highly trained riders employed by licensed trainers to ride their horses at public race meetings.

What do people do in this job?
Jockeys earn their living by competing in races and the more races they win, the greater their income.

Jockeys are paid a set fee for riding a horse in a race and a fixed percentage of any stake money for winning or being placed.

They exercise the horses on non-race days, which means a very early morning start.

The rest of the day consists of stable duties and generally assisting their particular trainer or stable.

Behind the glamour of the profession lies a great deal of planning and hard work.

Horses have to be bred and trained, stable workers have to be trained and the young men and women who ride the horses to victory have to be carefully selected and trained.

What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Jockeys are normally of below average height and weight and have to be very disciplined in order to keep their weight constant.

They also have to obtain their own race rides, so they need to be able to speak up for themselves and relate well to all sorts of people - owners, trainers and stable workers.

Finally, they must have physical fitness, be brave and be able to get back on a horse after every fall.

What qualifications are needed?
On being selected after a series of interviews, young people are taken on as apprentice jockeys, normally for a five-year apprenticeship in a jockey?'?s academy.

After completing the apprenticeship, a jockey is a? '?free agent?'?.

The thrill of big-time racing and an open-air life, the chance to become a name in the world of sport, and a very rewarding future are what this career offers.